Of 39 gun bills introduced in the Michigan Legislature this two-year term, most are sponsored by Republicans seeking to expand the rights of gun owners. Ten can be described as gun-control measures, led by Democrats.

House bills

Sponsor: Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby TownshipIntroduced: Jan. 11, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Exempts someone who is at least 21 years old and is not prohibited from owning a gun from application requirements, including training, to get a concealed pistol license. That person must immediately disclose the concealed pistol if stopped by law enforcement and does not have a license.

Sponsor: Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby TownshipIntroduced: Jan. 11, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Among other things, makes it legal for people to carry a concealed pistol on their bodies or in a vehicle.

Sponsor: Rep. Robert Kosowski, D-WestlandIntroduced: Jan. 12, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Creates a school security task force within the Michigan State Police to suggest ways to better protect schools from shooters.

Sponsor: Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Saginaw TownshipIntroduced: Feb. 23, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Allows people seeking protection under personal protection orders to be exempt from a ban on carrying a concealed firearm in no-carry zones, such as schools, daycare centers and sports arenas.

Sponsor: Rep. Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton (4416); Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R-Chesterfield Township (4417); Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine (4418); Rep. Triston Cole, R-Mancelona (4419)Introduced: March 28, 2017Status: Passed the House 59-49 (4416 and 4418); 60-48 (4417); 61-47 (4419). Pending in Senate government operations committee since June 13, 2017What it does: Would allow people to carry a concealed pistol without first having to get a concealed pistol license, so long as the person is not banned from having a gun under state or federal law.

Sponsor: Rep. Lee Chatfield, R-LeveringIntroduced: May 2, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Allows people to request their information be removed from a Michigan State Police pistol registry that keeps required records on pistols bought and sold in the state. It is separate from a database of concealed pistol license holders.

Sponsor: Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-DearbornIntroduced: May 2, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Prohibits someone from having a gun at a police station, so long as the police station has posted signs that say no firearms are allowed on site. That provision would not apply to someone who is turning over a firearm to police as evidence, or to be destroyed.

Sponsor: Rep. Gary Howell, R-North BranchIntroduced: May 17, 2017Status: Passed the House 69-39. Pending in Senate government operations committee since Sept. 28, 2017What it does: Prevents cities and towns from enacting gun laws that are more restrictive than state law.

Sponsor: Rep. Robert Wittenberg, D-Huntington WoodsIntroduced: June 7, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Creates “extreme risk protection orders” that allow for the temporary seizure of guns from someone a court deems to be at risk of harming themselves or others.

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Ellison, D-Royal OakIntroduced: June 7, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: The owner of properties where concealed weapons are banned, such as schools, daycare centers and sports stadiums, also can ban someone from openly carrying a gun on the property. The bill would exempt law enforcement, security guards or someone who has the owners’ permission.

Sponsor: Rep. Triston Cole, R-MancelonaIntroduced: Aug. 16, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Adds exemptions to state law requiring people to get a pistol license before buying or carrying a pistol in Michigan. Exemptions would be added for: spouses, family members and guests of someone licensed to have a pistol, when in the licensed person’s home; and someone who has been licensed to buy, carry, possess or transport a pistol. A House Fiscal Agency analysis says the bill appears to include people whose previous licenses had expired.

Sponsor: Rep. Erika Geiss, D-TaylorIntroduced: Nov. 9, 2017Status: Pending in House judiciary committeeWhat it does: Requires someone who has a personal protection order issued against them to turn over all guns owned or in their possession if requested by a police officer, or turn them over to law enforcement or sell them to a licensed dealer within 24 hours of being served with the order. That person also can be prevented from buying firearms.

Senate

Sponsor: Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann ArborIntroduced: March 30, 2017Status: Pending in Senate judiciary committeeWhat it does: Sets criminal penalties for failing to securely lock and store a firearm that ends up in the hands of a minor. Would also require those penalties be displayed at gun stores.

Sponsor: Sen. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse CityIntroduced: May 4, 2017Status: Passed the Senate 26-11. Pending in House judiciary committee since Nov. 9, 2017What it does: Allows someone at least 18 years old but younger than 21 years old to apply for a provisional concealed pistol license. The provisional license would be valid only until the applicant’s 21st birthday.

Sponsor: Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba Introduced: Sept. 6, 2017Status: Passed the Senate 26-11. Pending in House judiciary committee since Nov. 9, 2017What it does: Among other things, would allow someone to have a gun or ammunition at a foster home if state law permits the person to have a firearm, require the gun to be securely locked on the property when not being legally used, and hold a supervising agency immune from liability if someone is injured as a result of the gun or ammunition stored on the property.

Sponsor: Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann ArborIntroduced: Nov. 28, 2017Status: Pending in Senate government operations committeeWhat it does: Requires someone who has a personal protection order issued against him or her to turn over all guns owned or in his or her possession if requested by a police officer, or turn them over to law enforcement or sell them to a licensed dealer within 24 hours of being served with the order. That person also can be prevented from buying firearms.

Enacted

Sponsor: Sen. Mike Green, R-MayvilleIntroduced: March 7, 2017Status: Passed the Senate 27-10. Passed the House 104-3. House changes passed the Senate 32-5. Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, July 13, 2017. Took effect Oct. 11, 2017.What it does: The bill, which makes technical changes to how gun records are coordinated with county clerks, was at the request of law enforcement, Snyder spokeswoman Anna Heaton said. The law includes provisions that require a sheriff to notify the clerk if someone is ineligible to receive a concealed pistol license, and prevent a clerk from issuing a license unless state police or a sheriff has found the person applying for the license is not banned from having a gun under federal law.

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Comments

Chuck Fellows

Mon, 03/26/2018 - 8:55am

The Republican tilt appears to be increased access to guns and increased opportunities to carry guns in public places. Question: How do those actions increase public safety and decrease the potential for death by gun?Please provide evidence, not opinion. My opposition to these measures is based upon the global example that fewer guns in the public sphere leads to reduced death by gun.

Chuck, You are stating an unsupported position as if fact and demanding those opposed disprove it. Please provide evidence supporting your claim that easing of restrictions on lawful carry makes the public less safe.

Doug: Those who would remove our God-Given Right to Self- Defense, and, also to Defend our loved ones, members of our Churches, Synagogues, and other innocent lives, as well as our fellow Red-blooded, God-fearing Americans, from a godless, Communist or Islamic Fundamentalist and Tyrannical Dictator!!!

Is your only measure of public safety deaths by gun? Your claim ‘less guns = less death by guns’ still doesn’t mean less violent crime (based on the global example). Law abiding citizens don’t just go around shooting people.

If these Republican legislators are so enthusiastic about people carrying concealed weapons, why aren't they clamoring to allow members of the public to carry concealed weapons in the state capitol?Could it be that--when it is THEIR lives on the line--they recognize that freely carried guns are a potential danger...?

Paul,The public is NOT barred from legally carrying in the state capitol. You may open carry or, if properly licensed, concealed carry in the state capitol building. Perhaps if you did your homework before speaking out you would realize that the folks who carry are probably the best behaved, law abiding people you have ever met and are not going to put anyone's "life on the line" unless threatened with great bodily harm.

Michigan citizens are fortunate that most bills die in legislative committees. Most all of these bills will do little or nothing to prevent mass shootings and make Michigan's children safer at school. Let's hope that they die in committee.

Public safety would be enhanced if the legislature would enact laws banning the cars that cause drunk driving. The democrats, with their involute logic, should be able to see common sense solutions like this to every societal problem that pops up. Right?

The solution to the mental health crisis in this country is bringing the Inspired, and Innerant Word of the Living God: (The Holy Bible, KJV) back into all our nation's schools: K-12; and restore Godly people into all positions of leadership at every level of our government! (Local, State and Federal); and restore our Country back to the Biblical Principles which she ( the U.S.A.) was Founded upon! Psalm 9:17 The wicked (ungodly and unsaved sinner) shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (that forsake the LORD GOD of Israel). Psalm 11:3 If the foundations (America was Founded upon the Bible, and the Lord God of Israel, Creator-God of the Universe, and all that dwell therein): be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (The righteous: those who put their whole trust in the Jewish Messiah: the only GodMan Who came from Heaven and into His Creation to not only teach us how to live by His sinless and perfect example; He came to die a cruel death on a Roman Cross as our sin-sacrifice! He alone was holy, perfect and sinless; and therefore He alone qualified to be the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of all who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their personal Savior and Lord!!! Our young people as well as the rest of the population of lost American souls need Jesus Christ and His Word! The Supreme Court has committed Judicial Tyranny for about a century or so by making laws by judicial fiat!!!!! It's not their rightful place to make laws, but rather, to apply the Law in a way that doesn't show favor toward individual due to social or economic status, neither according to their race or Christian or Jewish Denomination! Lady Justice is to "apply the Law", not create the law, equally, blindly!! When a liberal "activist judge, or Supreme Court Justice" decides that it's his/her job to make law, he/she is not worthy of the Judicial Robe he wears; and he/she renders his/her opinion/ruling as a Tyrant's ruling: Unjust; and the Congress should immediately remove him/her for bad behavior! The Constitution: Article 3 Section 1 .......The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, .....